New Concepts in Water Conservation: the Reduce-Your-Use Bathmat

When discussing global environmental issues, water is at the top of the list.  Consider this: According to water.org, an American taking a five-minute shower

uses more water than thetypical person living in a developing country slum uses in a whole day, and at any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease. The list continues, in a rather eye-opening and disheartening fashion.   

 

This year's INDEX: AIGA Aspen Design Challenge brought design students together to problem solve global issues regarding water awareness, safety and conservation. The finalists, a group of students from Samsung Design Membership for eco-friendly Oli concept line, envisioned a water-saving bathmat which epitomizes water conservation at its easiest and most practical. 

The design is simple:  The 'REDUCE-YOUR-USE' bathmat connects to the tap and utilizes a pressure-sensitive design that senses when you are close to the showerhead, rinsing off, or further away, soaping up, and cuts the flow of water accordingly.  

 

Incorporated also into the full water-conserving package is a 'REFRESH-N-REMIND' monitor that tells you how many gallons you've used and how long you've been in for, as well as a 'RELAX-N-REUSE' grey-water collecting seat to place in the shower.

via inventorspot.com